Musical instrument



I. GRAEANIN.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 10, I920.

Patented June 21, 1921.

attozweq UNITED STATES I IVAN GRAGANIN, 0F BARTON, OHIO.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 21, 1921.

Application filed December 10, 1920. Serial No. 429,750.

I '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IVAN GnAcANIN, a. citizen of Jugo-Slavia, residing at Barton, in the county of Belmont and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Musical Instruments, of which the following is'a specification.

This inventionrelates to certain new and useful improvements in musicalinstruments and has particular reference to a portable device in the form of a box structure having a plurality ofspaced relatively thin strips arranged across the open side of a box to be covered by a flexible strip such as paper or cloth with vocal sounds directed therethrough to produce resonant sounds similar to those produced by the provision of reeds.

A further object of the invention resides in the-provision of a portable musical instrument in the form of a box structure having relatively thin spaced strips extending across an open side thereof with a sound board within the box against which vocal sounds are directed.

A still further object of the invention re? sides in the provision of a box constructed as above described with a roll of paper or cloth mounted on the box for the purpose of presenting a new section thereof overlying the spaced strips upon each playing of the device.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described in connection with the accompanying drawings, and in which like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a musical instrument constructed in accordance with the present invention, the flexible sheet covering for the spaced strips being broken away to show the upper face of the box,

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line II-II of Fig. 1 showing the pawl and ratchet devices associated with the reel for supporting the sheet covering to hold the sheet in a taut condition,

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view of the instrument and Fi 41 is a cross sectional view taken on line IV-IV of Fig. 1 showing the sound board within the box for deflecting the sounds passing through the box during travel to the exit openings.

Referring more in detail to the accompanynig drawings, there is illustrated a musical instrument in the form of a box like cas ng comprising side walls 1 and 2, a bottom wall 3 and end walls 4 and 5 suitably secured together. The upper open side of the box is traversed by a plurality of spaced relatively thin: strips 6 having the ends thereof mortised as at 7 in the upper edges of the side walls 1 and 2.

A sound board is positioned within the box, the same being formed of a pair of inclined longitudinally extending strips 8 and 9 substantially V-shaped in cross section as shown in Fig. 41, with the adjacent edges thereof contacting as illustrated while the free edge 'ofthe strip 8 engages the side wall 2 of the box, the free edge of the strip 9 being spaced from the opposite side wall 1 to provide a sound passage through the box to the outlet openings 10 as shown in Figs. 2and 4. The strips 8 and 9 of the sound box have the ends thereof mortised within the opposite end walls 4: and 5 as indicated at .8 in Fig. 2.

A pair of brackets 11 and 12 project from opposite edges of the end wall 41 in line with the side walls 1 and 2 and rotatably support therein a shaft 13 provided with a keyhead 14 while the shaft 13 between the brackets 11 and 12 is provided with a longitudinal slot 13' through which one end of a flexible strlp of paper or cloth 15 is anchored for winding upon the shaft as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The flexible strip or sheet 15 passes through an inclined slot 4: in the end wall 4 and overlies the transverse strips 6 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 with the opposite end thereof anchored by the key pin 16 to the outer face of the end wall 5 to provide for a proper tension on the sheet or strip 15 and to maintain the same in a taut condition overlying the strips 6; a pawl 17 provided with a finger piece 18 is pivoted to the inner face of the bracket 12 and is adapted for engagement with the ratchet wheel 19 fixed to the adjacent end of the shaft 13 within the bracket 12.

In the use of the device, the sheet 15 is placed against the lips and a person singing or whistling will produce resonant sounds by the sounds contacting the strips 6 which will be intensified upon contact with the sound board strips 8 and 9 to pass outwardly thereof through the side wall openings 10. To provide for a perfectly sanitary condition in the use of this instrument, an entirely new section of the strip or sheet 15 may be presented for use by releasing the pawl and ratchet mechanism and unwinding the sheet from the shaft 13 and attaching the free end thereof to the pin or button 16.

While there is herein shown and described what is believed to be the preferred embodi ment of the invention, it is nevertheless to be understood that minor changes maybe made in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts herein described without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is:

1. A musical instrument of the type described comprising a box like casing having an open side, a plurality of spaced relatively thin strips extending transversely of the open" side, anda flexible sheet overlying said transverse strips. 7 V V 2. A musical instrument of the type de-' scribed comprising a box like casing having an open side, a plurality of spaced relatively thin strips extending transversely of the open side, a flexible sheet overlying said transverse strips and a sound board within said casing.

8. A musical instrument of the type described comprising a box like casing having an open side, a plurality of spaced relatively thin strips extending transversely of the open side, a shaft journaled transversely of the casing exteriorly of one end thereof, a flexible sheet wound on said shaft and overlying said transverse strips and anchoring means for the free end of said sheet at the opposite end of the casing.

4:. A musical instrument of the type de-' scribed comprising a box like casing having an open side, a plurality of spaced relatively thin strips extending transversely of the open side, a shaft journaled transversely of the casing exteriorly of one end thereof, a flexible sheet wound on said shaft and overlying said transverse strips, anchoring means for the free end of said sheet at the i opposite end of the casing, and a pawl and ratchet device associated with said shaft for maintaining the sheet in taut condition overlying said transverse strips. 7

5. A musical instrument of the type described comprising a box like easing having an open side, a plurality of spaced relaoverlying said transverse strips, saidcasing having a plurality of openings in one wall thereof and a sound board within said casing deflecting the sounds passing through the casing to said openings.

6. A musical instrument of the type de scribed comp-rising a box like casing having an open side, a plurality of spaced relatively thin strips extending transversely of the open side, a pair of brackets carried by one end of said casing, a shaft journaled in said brackets, a flexible sheet wound on said shaft, an end wall of the casing adjacent said shaft having an angle slot therein for the passage of said sheet with the sheet overlyingsaid transverse strips and means carried by the opposite'end of said casing for anchoring the free end of said sheet.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

VIVAVN GRACA IN; 

